Testimonials
Every pilot starts somewhere and looking back I can’t think of a better place to start than Southland and with Southern Wings. What you learn in those first years of a flying career stay with you and so does the influence of those who pass on their passion and knowledge.
Achievements:
Commercial Pilot License, Multi Engine, Instrument Rating, C Category and B Category Instructor
Aviation employment since graduation:
- 2000 – 2001 Southern Wings, Instructor.
- 2001 – 2003 Stewart Islands Flights
- 2003 – 2004 Great Barrier Airlines
- 2004 – 2007 Air Nelson, Captain Saab 340A and Dash 8 Q 300
- 2007 – 2010 Pacific Blue Captain B737 – 800
- 2010 – Emirates
Southland has always been home and I guess I still consider Southern Wings in that way too. Although it’s only a few years since I began to make my way in the world of airline aviation it seems like forever since those days as a student and then an instructor at Southern Wings. They were great days
Achievements:
Commercial Pilot Licence, Multi-Engine, Instrument
C Category and B Category Instructor
Aviation employment since graduation:
- 2002—2003 Southern Wings, Instructor.
- 2003—2004 Mainland Air.
- 2004—Present Air Nelson, Captain Q300
Training with Southern Wings provided varied terrain and weather which was invaluable for developing not only stick and rudder skills but also decision making skills. The staff passed on their passion and knowledge and I have many great memories of the good times at Southern Wings
Achievements:
Commercial Pilot Licence, Multi-Engine, Instrument
Rating, C Category Instructor Rating
Aviation employment since graduation:
- 2006 C Category Instructor Southern Wings
- 2006-2007 Akuna Seaplanes Australia
- 2007 China Southern Western Australia Flight College
- 2007 –2010Stewart Island Flights
- 2010 – Eagle Air, Beech 1900
After I graduated from Southern Wings my first job was with Farmers Air as a loader driver. This soon lead to low level survey flying for Farmers Air/ Kiwi Air in Africa, North America, Asia and the Arctic. Now I primarily ferry planes around the world. In the 6 years since I have left Southern Wings, I have flown around the world twice in a single engine aircraft, and have flown a solo crossing of the north Atlantic, the Indian Ocean and around the Pacific Ocean. The training I received at Southern Wings was great. I learnt a mix of flying skills aerobatics, mountain flying, beach landings and most important, I learnt how to fly in all sorts of weather. The staff were great to work with and taught me the things I needed to know to get a job flying.
Achievements:
Commercial Pilot Licence, Multi-Engine, Instrument
Rating
Aviation employment since graduation:
- 2004 - Kiwi Air, Geophysical Survey
- Africa, Asia, North America, Australia and the Middle East
Achievements:
Commercial Pilot License, Multi Engine, Instrument Rating, C Category Instructor Rating, B Category Instructor Rating
Aviation employment since graduation:
- 2008 Southern Wings Instructor
- 2010 Stewart Island Flights
I found Southern Wings a great place to study with some of the best instructors I could have asked for, with awesome flying country, the Catlins, Fiordland and the Southern Alps are a stone throw away. The help and encouragement I received
allowed me to get into a great first job in turbines flying all over the world doing airborne survey operating. My overseas experience in Australia and Africa has shown me that there is so many
opportunities available to those willing to enjoy working all over the world
Achievements:
Commercial Pilot Licence, Multi-Engine, Instrument
Rating
Aviation employment since graduation:
- 2007 – Kiwi Air Ltd
The training offered by Southern Wings/South West Helicopters was second to none. Very thorough and practical and tailored to suit my requirements. The opportunities that were provided, and the exposure to the company’s commercial operations proved invaluable
Achievements:
Helicopter Commercial Pilot Licence (NZ/Canada)
Fixed Wing Commercial Pilot Licence (NZ/Canada)
Glider Instructor (NZ/Canada)
Micro-light Instructor
Aviation employment since graduation:
- 2008 – Present: Helicopter Line Ltd
Southern Wings were very accommodating when it came to helping me pursue a particular emphasis in my flight training and facilitating a speedy entry into the part of the industry I was focused on. Southern Wings is in a varied training environment which also includes a weather challenge and has great instructors who prepared me well for the real world of aviation.
Student 2003 – 2004
Achievements:
- Commercial Pilot License
- Multi Engine
- Instrument Rating
Aviation employment since graduation:
- 2004—2005 Queenstown Air
- 2005—2006 Farmers Air
- 2007 Kiwi Air, Geophysical Survey Australia and Canada.
